Cable dispensing and securing device



March 12, 1968 L. L. MESLER 3,372,665

CABLE DISPENSING AND SECURING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR. LILBURN L. MESLER ATTORNEYS March 12, 1968 L, MESLER3,372,665

CABLE DISPENSING AND SECURING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20 1966 FIG. 3

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LILBURN L MESLER March 12, 1968 L. MESLER3,372,665

CABLE DISPENSING AND SECURING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet3 NVENTOR.

L. MESLER ATTORNEYS March 12, 1968 L. L. MESLER 3,372,665

CABLE DISPENSING AND SECURING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet4 FIG. 6

INVENTOR LILBURN L. MESLER BY 44m JSJW MM 13 10? Klws ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent Ofifice 3,372,665 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 3,372,665 CABLEDISPENSING AND SECURING DEVICE Lilbum LLMesler, Palmyra, Mich, assignorto American Chain & (Iable Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporationof New York Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 392,560, Aug.27, 1964. This application Sept. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 593,251

Claims. (Cl. 114-206) This application is a continuation-inpart of Ser.No. 392,560, filed Aug. 27, 1964.

This invention relates to devices for dispensing and securing cable and,more particularly, to a device where in the cable is paid out from theend of a reel through a rotatable flyer and is secured by positivelocking means which prevent further rotation of the flyer.

One of the principal uses to which the device of the invention isparticularly adapted is in the mooring of buoys at a given station on abody of Water. It has many applications beyond that specific purpose,however, all of which are apparent from the following descriptions ofspecific embodiments of the invention. With respec to the stationing ofbuoys, it is important that once they are located they be kept inposition with minimum drift. This is particularly true of navigationalbuoys and also marker buoys used in rescue work and in oceanographicexploration. Conventional mooring devices do not provide a highlyaccurate means for stationing a buoy because the vertical distancebetween the buoy and the bottom of the body of water is often much lessthan the paid out length of the mooring cable. The result is that thebuoy drifts away from a station directly above the anchoring point ofthe cable. One of the reasons for this excess length of the mooringcable is that the cable is often paid out after the anchor reaches thebottom of the body of water and slack is thus created which produces anarc in the mooring cable from the anchor to the surface. It follows thatthe buoy on the surface may actually be located at some point on acircle about the anchor rather than directly over the anchor itself.

Broadly stated, the device provided by the invention for dispensing andsecuring cable comprises a main body portion and a flyer rotatable onthe body portion. A reel is affixed to the body portion coaxial with theflyer. Wrapped about the reel is a length of cable to be paid out fromthe end of the reel through the flyer to impart rotation to the flyer.Locking means are provided for preventing rotation of the flyer and payout of the cable and includes positively engageable first and secondlocking elements mounted on the flyer and body portion respectively andbiased toward locked position. The locking means further includesrestraining means releasably holding the locking elements out of lockedposition and triggering means for disabling the restraining means torelease the locking elements into locked position and prevent rotationof the flyer.

When used with a moo-ring cable to station a buoy, the cable is securedon the surface of the body of water and the remainder of the device isadapted to be submerged downwardly therefrom. In one embodiment of theinvention, the locking elements comprise a springbiased pin on the bodyportion and a disc on the flyer defining sockets in which said pin ispositively engageable. The restraining means releasably holds thespringbiased pin, and the triggering means is operative to disable therestraining means in response to impact on the bottom of water by anchormeans secured to the body portion.

In another embodiment of the invention, the first locking element on theflyer is biased toward the second locking element. Eccentric means aremounted on the flyer for limited displacement with respect to the axisof rotation thereof, and biasing means act upon this eccentric means.The eccentric means is urged by centrifugal force during rotation of theflyer into connected relation with the first locking element to hold thelocking elements in unlocked position. Upon cessation of rotation of theflyer, the eccentric means is urged by the biasing means intodisconnected relation with the first locking element to release thelocking element into locked position.

By the foregoing constructions, it is possible to cease pay out of thecable very sharply simply by triggering the locking means which preventsfurther rotation of the flyer. When applied to a mooring buoy, thetriggering means may be actuated to lock the flyer in response either toimpact of the anchor on the bottom of the body of water or simply to thecessation of rotation of the flyer which occurs at that time. In eithercase, excessive slack is not introduced into the mooring cable and thebuoy is accurately located at a station directly above the anchor. Manyanalogous uses in a. number of areas other than marine installationswill be equally evident.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinbelow withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a schematicshowing a buoy floating upon the ocean surface and the mooring devicedescending vertically in the water below it;

FIG. 2 is a schematic like FIG. 1 showing the mooring device in itsanchored position in the ocean floor;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional elevation of the mooring device;

FIG. 4 is a section of the mooring device taken through line 4--4 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the mooring device;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional elevation of a second embodiment of themooring device;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the flyer and locking mechanism of thesecond embodiment of the mooring device;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the locking mechanism of the second embodiment,the solid lines showing the position of the elements before the deviceis released and the dotted lines showing the position of the elementsduring descent;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the locking mechanism of the second embodimentshowing the elements in locked position; and

FIG. 10 is a section of the locking mechanism taken through line 1010 ofFIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 3, the mooring device comprises three major members, amain body portion 10, a mooring cable storage reel 12, and an anchormember 14. Each of the three major members and related parts aredescribed in detail below.

The main body portion 10 is of generally bowl-shaped configurationhaving upwardly diverging sides 16. This configuration of the main bodyportion 10 aids in stabilizing the descent of the mooring device.Because the narrower end of the main body portion faces downwardly inthe direction of movement, the tendency of the device to tumble duringdescent is decreased. In addition, the presence of the anchor member 14below the main body portion 10 lowers the center of gravity of themooring device and thus also aids in stabilization.

The main body portion 10 is provided with a plurality of vertical fins18. The fins 18 are secured to the sides 16 of the main body portion 10by any suitable means such as rivets 20. The fins 18 act to preventrotation of the mooring device about its vertical axis during descentthrough the water and also to prevent tumbling.

Stabilization of the mooring device against rotation and tumblinginsures rapid and direct descent of the device through the water.Further, it maintains the anchor member 14 in its proper position forcontact with the ocean bottom. Also, as will be described later, properand eflicient unwinding of the mooring cable is permitted.

A stud 22 protrudes from the bottom 24 of the main body portion 10. Thestud 22 is centrally located upon the bottom 24 and acts as a supportfor the anchor member 14. The anchor member 14 comprises a spade 26 anda central tube 28. The tube 28 is adapted to fit in sliding engagementover the stud 22. The lower end 30 of the tub 28 is. sealed.

The stud 22 is shorter than tube 28, thereby providing a space betweenthe stud end and the sealed end 30 of the tube. In this space is locatedan explosive charge 32 which detonates upon contact of the spade 26 withthe ocean floor. Preferably, the means for detonating the charge 32 isan explosive cap (not shown) which explodes upon impact. The force ofthe detonation of the charge 32 drives the anchor member 14 into theocean floor (see FIG. 2). An anchor cable reel 34 is secured by brackets36 to the bottom of the main body portion 10. The anchor cable reel 34iscylindrically shaped and surrounds the upper portion of the anchorspade 26 but does not engage it. An anchor cable 38 is wound about theperiphery of the reel 34 and is secured at its one end to the anchormember 14 and at, its other end to the main body portion 10.

The length of the anchor cable 38 is measured to insure that all thecable is pulled oflf the anchor cable reel 34 when the anchor member 14is. driven int-o the ocean bottom. Thus, no slack anchor cable remainsto permit dislogement of the main body portion 10 from its anchoredposition on the ocean floor. Further, the anchor cable 38 is Wound uponthe reel 34 in such a manner that there is no entanglement as it ispulled off.

The anchor cable 38 is preferably secured at its one end to the mainbody portion 10 by a cap nut 40 tightened over the expanded end of thecable. The anchor cable 38 is preferably secured at its other end to thecentral tube 28 of the anchor member 14 by dual cable links 42, bestillustrated in FIG. 2. The reason for this dual cable arrangement isthat any upward tension on the anchor cable 38 will tend to force theanchor member 14 into the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2, therebyfirmly embedding it in the ocean bottom.

The mooring cable storage reel 12 is located inside the bowl of the mainbody portion 19. The reel 12 is bolted to the main body portion 10 andis immovable with respectto it. The mooring cable storage reel 12comprises a bottom flange 44, a hollow cylinder portion 46, and a topflange 48. The bottom flange 44 is fastened to the bottom of the mainbody portion 10 by bolts 50. Stored upon the cylinder portion 46 of thereel 12 is a mooring cable 52 provided with a loop 53 for securing thecable to a buoy or other device.

A rotatable core 54 is positioned within the cylinder portion 46 of thestorage reel 12. The rotatable core 54 is dimensioned so that it mayrotate freely about its longitudinal axiswithin the stationary cylinderportion 46. The rotatable core 54 is provided with an upper rotatingplate or flyer 56 and a lower locking disc 58.

The rotating plate 56 is slidable upon top flange 48 of the mooringcable storage reel 12. The rotating plate 56 is provided with aplurality of brakes 60. The brakes 60 each comprise a brake disc 62adapted to be held in pressure contact with the rotating plate 56 by acompression spring 58. The degree of compression is adjustable by meansof adjusting bolt 64 set in the brake housing 66.

The rotating plate 56 is also provided with a guide 68 through which themooring cable 52 runs. The plate guide 681 is securednear the peripheryof the rotating plate 56 and preferably comprises a flexible member 70,such as a spring, held on the plateby nut 72.

A central guide means 74 is also located upon the rotating plate 56. Thecentral guide means 74 comprises a plurality of brackets 76 secured attheir lower ends to the rotating plate 56. These brackets support aguide tube 78 in a block 79. The guide tube 78 has its longitudinal orprincipal axis in alignment with the axis of the reel 12. The guide tube78 also preferably has a flexible extension 80 secured to the block 79by a nut 82.

The rotating plate 56 and the members associated with it as describedabove provide means for unwinding the mooring cable 52 from the mooringcable storage reel 12 in a manner which substantially eliminatesrotation forces which might impair the stability of the mooring deviceas it sinks. Cable is not pulled off a rotable reel in a tangentialdirection, as is conventional practice. Rather, the reel 12 isstationary and the mooring cable 52 is drawn off the reel in a generallyaxial direction. The axial paying-off of the mooring cable 52 ispermitted by the rotatable plate 56 through which the cable is guided.As cable is drawn upwardly through the guide 68 and central guide means74, the plate 56 and the rotatable core 54 connected therewith, rotate.Thus, any rotational forces created by unwinding the mooring cable 52are dissipated in rotating the rotating plate 56 and do not act upon themain body portion 10. Therefore, stability of the device is notdisturbed.

The guidance of the mooring cable 52 through the central guide means 74helps prevent imbalance which might result from unwinding the cable.Further, the cable is given a back-twist of one twist per helicalconvolution so that it is left free of net twist as it is paid out anddoes not become kinked or snarled. Also, the speed of rotation of theflange 56 is controlled by the brakes 6t} and thus aids in the orderlyrelease of cable.

The mooring cable 52 may be drawn off the reel 12 in the mannerdescribed only so long as the rotating plate 56 is permitted to rotate.Rotation of the plate 56 ends when the locking disc 44, and the core 54interconnecting both the plate 56 and the disc 44 cease to rotate.

The locking disc 44, which is best illustrated in FIG. 4, is rotatablewithin a circular cutout portion 84 of the main body portion 10. Thelocking disc 44 is provided with a plurality of sockets in the form ofslots 86. in itsperiphery, which slots are adapted to receive an end ofa locking pin 88. As recited in the claims hereinafter, the pin 88 isthe first locking element on the flyer and the disc 44 with its slots 86constitutes the second locking element on the body portion. The lockingpin 88 is urged toward the locking disc 44 by compression spring 90 setin a sleeve 92. However, locking pin 88 is normally held out ofengagement with the slots 86 by restraining means which is the end of awire 94 run through the main body portion 10 and the locking pin. Theother end of the wire 94 secured to the anchor spade 26 by a bolt 96serves as triggering means.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the rotation of the lockingflange 44 and connected parts is stopped when wire 94 is withdrawn andthe spring loaded locking pin 88 permitted to engage one of the slots 86in the locking flange. It follows that release of the mooring cable 52also ends.

The mooring device is used to anchor a buoy in the following manner.

The loop 53 at the end of mooring cable 52 is secured to the undersideof the buoy. The adjusting bolts 64 are then set to establish therotation of the rotating plate 56 at a predetermined speed. Suchadjustment is made to permit rapid descent of the mooring device in thewater without paying off excess mooring cable.

The buoy and the mooring device are then dropped into the ocean at thedesired location with the anchor member 14 of the mooring device facingdownward.

The mooring device then sinks in a substantially vertical line due,principally, to the stabilizing influences of the shape of the main bodyportion 10 and the fins 18.

As the mooring device sinks the mooring cable 52 is drawn off from themooring cable storage reel 12 because of the tension upon it from thebuoy which remains floating on the waters surface. Lateral forces areexerted upon the rotating plate 56 by the mooring cable 52 which passesthrough guide 68 set off-center from the rotational axis of the plate.These lateral forces cause the plate 56 to rotate thereby permittingmore of the cable 52 to be drawn off the reel 12. Because the plate 56rotates the lateral forces generated by the letting out of the mooringcable 52 are dissipated so that any tendency to upset or rotate thedevice as a whole is minimized. The brakes 68 having been pre-set, themooring device sinks at a rate that permits smooth and rapid paying-offof the mooring cable 52 without entanglement of the cable.

The mooring device continues to sink in this manner until the lower endof the anchor member 14 strikes the ocean floor. Upon impact the charge32 detonates. The explosion of charge 32 drives the anchor member 14into the ocean floor thereby unravelling the anchor cable 38 andanchoring the device to the ocean bottom. Simultaneously, the wire 94 iswithdrawn from locking pin 88 which pin is thrust into lockingengagement with one of the slots 86 of rotating locking disc 44.Immediately, the rotation of the disc 44, the core 54 and the rotatingplate 56 is stopped thereby preventing further unwinding of mooringcable 52.

Referring generally to FIGS. 6-10, a second embodiment of the presentinvention comprises a main body member 100 including a cable storagereel 112, a rotatable plate or fiyer 114 mounted above the storage reel,and an anchor member (not shown).

The main body member comprises a cylindrical weight portion 115 which issubstantially solid, a plurality of stabilizing fins 116 verticallymounted by suitable means at regular intervals about the cylindricalsurface of the weight portion 115, and anchor means 117 protruding fromthe bottom of the weight portion 117 (only the upper portion of theanchor means being shown).

The mooring cable storage reel 112 comprises a lower flange portion 121,a cylindrical portion 122 and an upper flange portion 123. The lowerflange portion of the reel 112 is secured to the upper end of the weightportion 115 by any suitable means and is immovable with respect thereto.A mooring cable 124 is wrapped about the cylindrical portion 122 perhapswith a back twist as described in the previous embodiment.

A hollow shaft 131 is rotatably mounted in a central bore 132 of thecylindrical portion 122 of the mooring cable storage reel 112. The shaft131 is journaled at either end of the bore 132 in bearings 133 and 134and is provided with a collar 135 at its lower end to prevent axialmovement.

The flyer 114 is secured to the shaft 131 and rotates therewith. It isprovided with a cocking arm 138 and an eccentric arm 139 which haveweighted heads 140 and 141 respectively. Both arms are mounted forpivotal movement in a plane parallel to that of the face of the flyer114 about pins 143 and 144 respectively. The travel of the cocking arm138 is determined by limit stops 145 and 146 and the travel of theeccentric arm 139 is determined by a biasing spring 147 one end of whichis secured to the arm 139 and the other end of which is anchored to thelimit stop 146. The head 140 of the cocking arm 138 is provided with astud 148 and the head 141 of the eccentric arm 139 is provided with asmall bore 149. As explained hereinafter, the head 141 of the eccentricarm and an opposite tail partion 139 constitute triggering andrestraining means respectively. Locking means 156 is mounted verticallyon the flyer 114 and comprises a support 151, a first locking element orpin 152, and a compression spring 153. The compression spring 153 biasesthe locking pin 152 in a downward direction by acting against both aportion of the support 6 151 and a flange portion 155 which isintegrally formed on the locking pin 152. The locking pin 152, ifreleased, will protrude through an opening in the flyer 114 and enterinto a second locking element which is the flange portion 123 definingsockets 160 arranged circularly adjacent the lower surface of the flyer114.

Further provided on the fiyer plate 114 is a dynamic balance weight 161and a cable guide 162. The cable guide 162 is a tube which extendsupwardly through the periphery of the plate 114, then diagonally towardsthe shaft 131, through a cutout 163 in the shaft and finally verticallyupwardly along the axis of the shaft 131, terminating at a flexiblefitting 164. The guide 162 permits the mooring cable 124 to be drawn offthe storage reel in an axial direction and enables a rotary motion to beimparted to the fiyer 114 as the mooring cable is so drawn off.

In operation, the full length of the mooring cable 124 is wound on thereel 112. The end of the cable is drawn through the guide 152 andextends beyond the fitting 1 64 where it is secured to a buoy or thelike. To cock the locking mechanism, the locking pin 152 is raised andthe arms 138 and 139 are positioned together so that the stud 148 entersthe bore 141, as shown in FIG. 8 in solid lines. The engagement is suchthat the two arms may be separated only if they both swing radiallyoutwardly about their respective pins 143 and 144. In this cockedposition, the locking pin 152 may be released and still be maintainedout of locking engagement with the bores 160. This is accomplishedbecause the position of the eccentric arm 139 is such that the flangeportion 155 of the locking pin 152 rests on the tail portion 139' of theeccentric arm 139.

When the device is dropped through the water or other medium, rotationis imparted to the flyer plate 114 by the mooring cable 124 as it paysout. Rotation of the main body portion 188 and the storage reel portion112 is retarded by the fins 116. As the angular velocity of the flyer114 increases, centrifugal force causes the head 148 and 141 of arms 138and 139 respectively to swing radially outwardly as shown by the dottedlines in FIG. 8. The outward movement of the cooking arm 138 is limitedby the stop and the outward movement of the eccentric arm 13? isrestrained by the spring 147. The dynamic balance of the system ismaintained by the weight 161.

When the device impacts with the ocean bottom or the like, the anchormeans 117 (perhaps similar to the anchor actuated by an explosive chargeas in the previous embodiment) secures itself to the bottom in anysuitable fashion. At the same time, the cable 124 ceases the pay out andthe flyer 114 ceases to rotate. As the angular velocity of the flyer 114diminishes, the centrifugal force on the arms 138 and 139 likewisediminishes to a point where the elastic force of the spring 147overcomes the centrifugal force on the eccentric arm 139. At this point,the eccentric arm 13? is caused to pivot radially inwardly about its pin144 to assume the position illustrated in FIG. 9. As the eccentric arm139 so pivots, the tail portion 139 moves away from the lockingmechanism. 158 and thus out of supporting engagement with the flangepoztion of the locking pin 152. The force of the compression spring 153causes the locking pin 152 to traverse downwardly through the opening inthe flyer 114 and into locking engagementwith one of the plurality ofsockets 158. The device is then secured to the ocean bottom and thefiyer plate 114 is then locked against rotation, thereby effectivelyrestraining the mooring cable 124.

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to descent bygravity through air or water. The unique means for paying out andsecuring a cable which it embodies can serve as well where the device ispulled by a vehicle or projected through its path of travel and islocked without slackening the cable when its displacement ceases. Also,the end of the cable may be pulled out in the more common manner whilethe remainder of the device is stationary.

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing and securing a cable comprising (a) a mainbody portion;

(b) a fiyer rotatable on the body portion;

(c) a reel fixed to the body portion coaxial with the fiyer;

(d) a length of cable Wrapped about the reel to be paid out from the endof the reel through the fiyer to impart rotation to the fiyer;

(6) locking means for preventing rotation of the fiyer and pay out ofthe cable comprising (i) positively engageable first and second. lockingelements mounted on the fiyer and body portion respectively and biasedtoward locked position,

(ii) restraining means releasably holding said locking elements out oflocked position, and

(iii) triggering means for disabling said restraining means to releasesaid locking elements into locked position and prevent rotation of thefiyer.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the cable is dispensed bysecuring that end thereof first withdrawn through said fiyer and movingthe remainder of the device away from the secured end of the cable, saidtriggering means being operative to disable said restraining means inresponse to interruption in the movement of said remainder of the deviceaway from the secured end of the cable.

3'. A device according to claim 2 wherein said end of the cable isadapted to be secured on the surface of a body of water and theremainder of the device is adapted to be submerged downwardly therefrom,said device further comprising (i) anchor means depending from the bodyportion,

(ii) said triggering means being operative to disable said restrainingmeans in response to arrival of the remainder of the device at thebottom of the body of water.

4. A device according to claim 3 which includes (i) fin means on thebody portion for maintaining the reel axis substantially vertical duringsubmergence.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein said locking elements comprise(i) a spring-biased pin and a member defining socket means in which saidpin is positively engageable.

6. A device according to claim 1 which includes (i) braking meansrotatable with the flyer for retarding rotation of the fiyer withrespect to the reel.

7. A device according to claim 3 wherein (i) said locking elementscomprise a spring-biased pin on the body portion and a disc on the fiyerdefining sockets in which said pin is positively engageable,

(ii) said restraining means releasably hold said springbiased pin,

(iii) said triggering means is operative to disable said restrainingmeans in response to impact of the anchor means on the bottom of thebody of water.

8. A device according to claim 3 wherein (i) the body portion is ofbowl-shaped configuration having sides diverging upwardly duringsubmergence.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein (i) the first locking elementon the fiyer is biased toward the second locking element.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein (i) said first locking elementis a spring-biased pin,

and

(ii) the second locking element comprises a plurality of sockets in saidbody portion in which said pin is positively engageable.

11. A device according to claim 9 wherein said restraining andtriggering means comprise (i) eccentric means mounted on said fiyer forlimited displacement with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, and

(ii) biasing means acting upon said eccentric means,

(iii) said eccentric means being urged by centrifugal force duringrotation of the flyer into connected relation with said first lockingelement to hold said locking elements in unlocked position,

(iv) said eccentric means being urged by said biasing means uponcessation of rotation of the fiyer into disconnected relation with saidfirst locking element to release said locking elements into lockedposition.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein said triggering means furthercomprises.

(i) cocking means for maintaing the eccentric means in connectedrelation with said first locking element when said fiyer is not rotatingand being urged by centrifugal force free of said eccentric means duringrotation of the fiyer.

13. A device according to claim llwherein said eccentric means comprises(i) a trigger arm pivoted intermediate its ends on'said fiyer at a pointspaced from the axis of rotation of the fiyer,

(ii) one end of said trigger arm being weighted to pivot by centrifugalforce during rotation of the fiyer, and

(iii) the other end of said trigger arm being engage able 'Wtih anddisengageable from said first locking element.

14. A device according to claim 13 wherein (i) said biasing means is aspring acting on said trigger arm to urge the weighted end thereoftoward said reel axis.

15. A device according to claim 13 wherein said triggering means furthercomprises (i) a cooking arm pivoted on said flyer at a point spaced fromthe axis of rotation of the fiyer,

(ii) one end of said cocking arm being engageable with said trigger armto maintain the trigger arm in engagement with said first lockingelement when the fiyer is not rotating and being weighted to pivot freeof said trigger arm by centrifugal force when said fiyer rotates.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,828 5/1943 Rohweder 242-1283,054,123 9/196'2 Moeller 114-2O6 X- 3,073,545 1/1963 Frate et a1.242-128 3,336,892 8/1967 Barry et a1. 9-8 X MILTON BUCHLER, PrimaryExaminer.

T. MAJOR, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING AND SECURING A CABLE COMPRISING (A) A MAINBODY PORTION; (B) A FLYER ROTATABLE ON THE BODY PORTION; (C) A REELFIXED TO THE BODY PORTION COAXIAL WITH THE FLYER; (D) A LENGTH OF CABLEWRAPPED ABOUT THE REEL TO BE PAID OUT FROM THE END OF THE REEL THROUGHTHE FLYER TO IMPART ROTATION OF THE FLYER; (E) LOCKING MEANS FORPREVENTING ROTATION OF THE FLYER AND PAY OUT OF THE CABLE COMPRISING (I)POSITIVELY ENGAGEABLE FIRST AND SECOND LOCKING ELEMENTS MOUNTED ON THEFLYER AND BODY PORTION RESPECTIVELY AND BIASED TOWARD LOCKED POSITION,(II) RESTRAINING MEANS RELEASABLE HOLDING SAID LOCKING ELEMENTS OUT OFLOCKED POSITION, AND (III) TRIGGERING MEANS FOR DISABLING SAIDRESTRAINING MEANS TO RELEASE SAID LOCKING ELEMENTS INTO LOCKED POSITIONAND PREVENT ROTATION OF THE FLYER.